Clamping devices for holding workpieces



March 28, 1961 w. R. RAMSEY CLAMPING DEVICES FOR HOLDING WORKPIECES Filed Aug. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CLAMPING DEVICES FOR HOLDING WORKPIECES William R. Ramsey, Burlington, N.C., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 756,919

8 Claims. (Cl. 90-60) This invention relates to clamping devices for holding workpieces and more particularly to clamping devices having tiltable work engaging members.

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved clamping devices for holding workpieces.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which includes jaws operable to exert a holddown force and a pressing force simultaneously upon workpieces.

Another object is the provision of a clamping device designed to hold elongated workpieces exposed along their lengths at predetermined positions for cutting.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a frame, opposed work engaging members spaced apart from the frame for movement in a path toward and away from each other, and means pivotally supporting the work engaging members slidably mounted on the frame for adjustment of the work engaging members toward and away from each other.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the device with parts thereof broken away for clarity;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. I viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, and in particular to Fig. 1, apparatus illustrating a specific'embodiment of the invention includes a vise clamp, designated generally by numeral 11, mounted within a frame 12. A pair of jaw blocks 13-13 are positioned on the frame 12, the jaw block 13 on the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, being adjustable laterally with respect to the other jaw block 13 which is fastened by suitable means such as bolt 14 to the frame 12.

Bell crank levers 15-15 are attached pivotally by pins 16-16 to the blocks 13-13 intermediate the ends of vertically depending arms 17-17 of the levers 15-15 for tilting movement about horizontal axes. The horizontally disposed arms 18-18 of the levers 15-15 extend from the juncture of the arms 17-17 and 18-18 toward the longitudinal centerline of the vise clamp 11. In the same vertical plane and at the approximate ends of the arms 18-18 a pair of work contact members 19-19 are pinned by pivots 21-21 so as to swing about horizontal axes vertically spaced above the blocks 13-13.

The work contact members 19-19 are horizontally opposed in a manner such that workpieces, for example, nested angle irons 22-22, may be clamped between the respective pairs of members 19-19 in close abutting relationship and also between the members 19-19 and the jaw blocks 13-13. Of course, the contour of the upper surface of the jaw blocks 13-13 and the configuration of the work contact members 19-19 may be 2,976,776 Patented Mar. 28, 1961 FCC bores 23-23, and are in urging contact with the lower portion of the vertically extending arms 17-17 of the bell crank levers 15-15. The compression springs 24-24 abut one another at their inner ends when the blocks 13-13 are caused to close on each other, and this action compresses the springs 24-24 to urge the arms 17-17 outwardly thereby pivoting the work contact members 19-19 downwardly and together. Of course, one compression spring seated in both bores 23-23 may beincorporated rather than the two springs 24-24. Manifestly, the angle irons 22-22 are not only clamped snugly into adjacent abutment by forces A and C exerted against them in a horizontal direction, but also are held downwardly against the blocks 13-13 by force B, Fig. 2, exerted by contact members 19-19.

The lateral adjustment of the blocks v$13-13 into clamping engagement with workpieces is accomplished by the provision of a headpiece 25 which may be attached to or formed integral with the block 13. Suitable guideways, not shown, may be designed in the upper surface of the frame 12 for guiding cooperation with the headpiece 25, and an adjusting screw 26 is furnishedfor travel in a threaded sleeve 27 mounted on the frame 12 by a support 28. The screw 26 is fastened by a coupling 29 to the headpiece 25 for free rotation but restricted longitudinal movement such that rotation of the screw by means of a handle 31 and crank 32 causes longitudinal movement of the headpiece 25.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, there is shown a vise clamp 11 mounted in the frame 12. The headpiece 25, not shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is elongated in order to move simultaneously each of the work contact members 19-19. As best shown in Fig. 1, the jaw blocks 13-13 are provided with cutouts 33-33 which are laterally spaced in horizontally aligned opposed pairs. The cutouts 33-33 extend to a depth below the upper surface of the jaw blocks 13-13 in order that transverse cuts made through the pair of angle irons 22-22, or any other workpiece held down on the blocks 13-13 may be made completely through the stock at locations coincident with the position of the cutouts 33-33. For purposes of illustration, the terminal work contact members 19-19 are of smaller longitudinal dimension than the dimension of those intermediate members 19-19, and the endportion of each of the arms 17-17 is reduced in width in order to pivotally hold small width terminal contact members 19-19.

The instant invention is designed to firmly clamp and hold down elongated workpieces precedent to an operation such as sawing, riveting, milling of notches, or milling top edges longitudinally. The clamp vise is assembled to position accurately the locations at which the clamped workpieces are to be machined, thereby facilitating the rapid sawing, for example, into definite lengths of a number ofworkpieces.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention so set forth in the appended claims.

vertical n llel with the vert cal 9f the fixed jaw block, the adjustable jaw being movable in a path toward and away from the fixed jaw block, means for adjusting the position of the movable jaw block on the frame, a tiltable lever pivotally connected to eaeh block, a swingable work contacting member having an inner face and a lower face pivotally connected to each lever, the work contacting members being attached to the levers such that the lower faces of the member are vertically spaced above the blocks and the member inner faces lie in a vertical plane which includes the longitudinal centerline of the clamp vise, each block having formed therein a spring bore extending through the vertical surface of the .block and in communication with the lever, and a compression spring engaged .within the spring bore engaging the lever to tilt the'leverland the work engaging member attached to the lever, the opposed blocks when adjusted toward each other forcing the spring portions extending through the verticalsurfaceof the blocks together in aimanner to compress each spring to urge its associated levervoutwardly.

2. A clamp vise whichrcomprises a frame, affixed jaw block having a vertical surface mounted on the frame, an adjustable jaw block mounted in the frame with a vertical surface parallel with the vertical surface of the fixed .jaw block, the adjustable jaw heingrnovable in a path toward and away from the fixed jaw block, the blocks having aligned opposed slots in theupper surfaces thereof, means for adjustingthe position .of the movable jaw block on the'frame, a tiltable lever vpivotally connected to each block, a swingable work contacting memher having an inner face and a lower face pivotally connected to each lever, the work contacting members being attached to the levers such that the lower faces of the members are vertically spaced above the blocks and the member inner faces lie in a verticalplane-wl'iich includes the longitudinal centerline of the clamp vise, the blocks having formed therein a spring bore extendingthrough thevertical surface of the blocks and in communication with the levers, and compression springs engaged within the spring boresengagingthe levers to tilt the levers and the work engaging members attached to the levers, the opposed blocks when adjusted towardeach other forcing the spring portions extending through the vertical surface of the blocks together in a manner to [compress each spring to urge its associated lever outwardly.

3. In a clamping device, a pair of jaws, means for mounting said jaws for relative movement toward and away from each other, a pair of levers respectively mounted on said individual jaws, biasing means interposed between said levers, and means for effecting relative movement between said jaws whereby said levers e to c p s i bi s m an an sa bi in means tends to pivot said levers." i i 4. A work clamp which comprises, a frame, means having a work engaging surface mountedon said frame, ;a jaw block having a work clamping surface formed therein mounted on said frame formotion toward and .away from saidwork engaging surface, a tiltable lever secured to said jaw block, a work contacting member secured to said lever having one portion thereof substantially parallel with saidwork engaging surfaceand an- ,other portion thereof substantially parallel with said work clamping surface, and means for biasing said lever :tomove said work contacting member toward said work engaging surface and toward said work clamping surface.

5. A work clamp which comprises a frame, means having a work engaging surface rnounted onsaid frame,

4 {a jaw block having a work clamping surface formed therein mounted on saidngms'ror' motion toward and away from said work engaging surface, a tiltable lever secured to said jaw block, a work contacting member secured to said lever having one portion thereof substantially parallel to said work engaging surface and another portion thereof substantially parallel to said work clamping surface,'a spring for biasing said lever to move said work contacting member toward said work engaging surface and toward said work clamping surface, and means operatively connected to said jaw block for moving saidjaw block toward said work engaging surface to advance said lever to compress said spring whereby said lever is pivoted.

6. A clamp vise which comprises a frame, a pair of jaw blocks mounted on said frame, a portion of each of said blocks being formed into a clamping surface within a common plane, a tiltable lever secured to each jaw block, said levers being mounted in opposed relationship to each other, a work contacting member attached to each of said levers aboyesaid clamping surface, said work contacting members having opposed substantially parallel work contacting surfaces in a non-parallel rela- .tionship with said clamping surface formed on said blocks, means for moving said blocks relatively toward and away from each other, and means mounted on said blocks and in operative engagement with said levers for biasingsaid levers to move said work contacting members towardsaid clamping surface and toward the work oontactingsurface formed in the opposed work contacting .rnembers.

7. A clamp vise which comprises a frame, a pair of .jaw blocks having an aperture formed therein mounted on ,Said frame, a portion ofeach of said blocks being formed intoaclamping surface within a common plane, a tjltable lever secured to each.jaw block, said levers being mounted in opposed relationship to each other, a work contacting member attached to each of said levers ,above said clamping surface, said work contacting members having opposed substantially parallel work contactua c s in non-Pa l e rela io s p with said c ping surface formed on said blocks, springs mounted within said aperturesof said jaw blocks in operative engagement with said levers for biasingsaid levers to move ,said work contacting members toward said clamping surface and toward the work contacting surface formed in the opposed work contacting members, and means for lrnoving said blocks relatively together to compress said springs.

8. In a clamping device, a frame, a first jaw fixed to said frame, a second jaw slidably mounted in said .frame for movement toward and away from said first jaw, a first lever pivotallymounted on said first jaw and having a section overlying the'top of said fixed jaw, a second lever pivotally mounted on said second jaw and having a section overlying the top of said second jaw, a spring interposed between said levers for biasing said first and second lever to move said overlying sections toward the tops of said jaws, and means for moving said second jaw toward said first jaw to move said second leverto compresssaid spring whereby said spring is rendered effective to force said overlying sections toward the tops of said jawsf References Cited inthc file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fisher Dec. 17, 1912 Stuhlfauth Nov. 24, 1942 

